The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU), Delta State, has asked its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, to step aside from his official responsibilities pending an investigation into questions surrounding his professorial credentials.
The university announced the decision on Tuesday, days after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation raised questions about Kila’s claim to the title of professor.
In a statement, the institution said the decision was taken in line with its commitment to academic integrity, transparency and high standards of institutional governance.
The university said it had taken note of the publication by PREMIUM TIMES, which questioned the professorial status of its Pro-Chancellor, and would investigate the issues raised before reaching a conclusion.
It said: “Anthony Kila has been requested to step aside from his responsibilities as Pro-Chancellor while the issues raised are being addressed, investigated, and findings concluded.”
According to the university, the measure was necessary to protect the integrity of its governance process and maintain the confidence of students, staff, parents, regulators and the general public.
The institution did not specify how long the investigation would last.
The controversy followed a PREMIUM TIMES report which said its investigation found no evidence that a recognised academic institution had awarded Kila the rank of professor.
The report also questioned his use of the designation “Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development,” which he reportedly said was conferred on him in 2016 by the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies (ECAPS), an institution he identified as being based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
However, the newspaper said checks with the UK Companies House, Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission and other public sources produced no evidence that ECAPS existed.
It also reported that the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which administers the European Union’s Jean Monnet programme, did not list Kila as a Jean Monnet project coordinator.
Kila has rejected the description of him as a “fake professor”, insisting that he remains a professor and stands by the credentials supporting the title.
He also told PREMIUM TIMES that he was prepared to provide documents relating to his professorial status, although the newspaper reported that he had yet to publicly release the documents.
The university had earlier removed Kila’s name, profile and photographs from its website.
Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has constituted a team to investigate the controversy following the PREMIUM TIMES findings.
The anti-corruption agency is also expected to examine whether the university benefited from any purported misrepresentation of Kila’s professorial status.
